PC candidate Christie says he has proof bill paid

A Progressive Conservative candidate says he has proof to show he paid an entire bill that was previously charged to Lacombe taxpayers.

Steve Christie, the mayor of Lacombe, is running for MLA in the riding of Lacombe-Ponoka. He is disputing claims from the Lacombe Taxpayers Association that he didn’t pay back the entire $500 to the City of Lacombe.

“I am sitting on the invoice in my back pocket,” said Christie, the Progressive Conservative candidate in Monday’s election, on Friday.

In March, after some digging by the Lacombe Taxpayers Association, Christie learned that he shouldn’t have claimed $500 for a Progressive Conservative fundraiser in 2009. Christie said at the time that he was glad the error was uncovered and that he would reimburse the municipality the $500.

Blaine Dushanek, a representative of the taxpayers’ association, said that Christie only paid $450.

According to Elections Alberta, Christie said he was only required to pay back $450 for the two tickets.

Norma MacQuarrie, chief administrative officer for the City of Lacombe, said in an email to the taxpayers’ association that $25 from each ticket is deemed to be a claimable expense eligible for reimbursement.

“But I paid the full $500,” said Christie.

The taxpayers association was formed in 2010 as a citizens’ watchdog to monitor municipal spending.